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United loss ends winning streak
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½ÂÀÎ 2013.11.19  08:30:35
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¡ã Yoon Bitgaram scores a late consolation for United in their defeat against Daegu. Photo courtesy Jeju United

One of the few positive statistics Jeju United had been able to mine from their 2013 K-League Classic relegation round appearance was the three-game winning streak the team had been on heading into Sunday. Lined up for Round 37 against 13th place Daegu, a team they had not lost to this season, it seemed likely United would extend their streak to four. However, if 2013 has taught us anything, it’s not to trust the odds to predict Jeju United’s record.

The opener had a touch of farce about it on 15 minutes. A weak corner from the left should have been cleared but it reached Choi Ho-Jung on the penalty spot. Choi, falling off balance, hooked with his left toward goal but failed to get much pace behind the shot. Jeon Tae-hyun, who was named in the K-League Classic’s Team of the Week for Round 36, looked to have gathered it, but it somehow squirmed from his grasp. Cho Hyung-ik pounced from two yards as the ball was spilled on the goal line for his first of the season to put Daegu 1-0 up. Jeon needn’t check this round’s Team of the Week.

Daegu’s second was more memorable. On 26 minutes, a quick break led to confusion in the United defence and Song Chang-ho picked up the ball about 30 yards from goal. He played it into the feet of Cho on the edge of the box and received the ball back as he rushed toward goal. Song’s first-time shot crashed against the crossbar, bouncing down onto the line. With Daegu players appealing for the goal, the ball found its way to Hwang Soon-Min at the right edge of the penalty area. The angle looked far too tight as he shaped to shoot, but the ball was exquisitely placed in the top-left corner of the net, leaving Jeon grasping at air. It was Hwang’s sixth of the season and it doubled Daegu’s lead.

It was a huge deficit considering that Jeju has not scored more than two goals in one match since July, and never more than one against Daegu the four times they faced each other this season. To make a comeback even more daunting of a task, add that Jeju did not dress Pedro Junior, Seo Dong-Hyeon, or Lee Jin-Ho, three of their top four scorers, for this game.

Jeju had chances to turn things around, however, and their best came on 37 minutes. A Jeon save prevented Daegu racing to a 3-0 lead and United cleared their lines. A long, high ball from the halfway line then sent Bae Il-hwan clean through the middle. With the 'keeper rushing out Bae jumped and connected with his thigh, sending the ball toward an open net. It looked a definite goal, but somehow defenderAhn Sang-hyun found an extra yard of pace to hook the ball off of the line. Before Daegu had a chance to draw breath, Bae picked up the loose ball on the left. He turned and picked out an unmarked Kang Soo-il on the penalty spot. With three players, including the 'keeper' on the floor, Kang had no excuses, although he would need them. He panicked, failed to connect well, and gave Cho Hyun-woo in Daegu's goal the chance to atone for his error. Park Kyung Hoon must have felt it wasn't his team's day.

¡ã Dejected United players leave the field after losing to Daegu. Photo courtesy Dave Cunning

The Orange’s struggles continued into the second half, as Daegu began noticeably outshooting Jeju, and forced keeper Jeon Tae-Hyun to make a number of big saves that otherwise would have made the score much worse. Conversely, Jeju was rarely ever able to gain entry into Daegu's box, nor give their keeper much reason to strain himself.

Jeju finally started applying significant pressure at 77 minutes, first sailing a shot over the crossbar, then one just right of the net. But Daegu immediately ground the pace of the game to a halt, interrupting whatever little momentum Jeju built by suddenly and often succumbing to "injuries" so serious that they required assistance off the field and precious minutes ran off the clock, yet were able to miraculously recover from quick enough to return to action only moments later.

Daegu’s “defensive strategy” did not go unnoticed by referee Choi Myung-Yong, who finally nailed Hwang Il-Soo with a yellow card for embellishment on 85 minutes, then again 2 minutes later with a second yellow and subsequent red card, bringing Hwang’s afternoon to an early end.

Jeju finally hacked through the distraction on 89 minutes. Maranhão streaked down right side of the field and crossed the ball to midfielder Yoon Bit-Garam, who managed to direct it into Daegu’s net with his head and cut their lead to 2-1 as injury time approached. It was Yoon’s first goal of the season.

With5 minutes of injury time on the board, Jeju all of a sudden found themselves with momentum, and within striking distance of a draw. But true to form, Daegu stuck with their plan - first it was Daegu's keeper who went down with an apparent calf injury immediately after the goal, and then another player shortly after, as the visitors did all they could to slow the pace of the one-goal game to a crawl.

Regardless of the excuses, Jeju had no answer for their first half transgressions, and found themselves on the losing end of a 2-1 final score at full time, as the 1505 in attendance looked on. It was the first time Jeju has lost to Daegu this season, dropping their season series record to 1-1-2.

Jeju Coach Park Kyung-Hoon did not use Daegu’s style of play to pardon the result either.

“It’s part of the game,” Park said. “It was a difference in willingness. They had a will to win.”

Jeju’s next home game is their last of 2013. Gyeongnam visits them at Seogwipo World Cup Stadium on November 24th. United is a perfect 3-0-0 against Gyeongnam this season, and will look to give their home fans something positive to remember them by until next season. Jeju United concludes 2013 on the road against Gangwon on November 30th, and is 2-0-1 against them so far. They are currently atop the relegation round table with 58 points.

Dave Cunning is a freelance writer from Kelowna, BC, Canada. Read his blog http://davecunning.wordpress.com and follow him on Twitter: @davecunning

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